In December 2025 I took a quick walk in the Rockefeller Center pedestrian passage beneath 6th Avenue for six blocks between 47th and 53rd Streets, accessible in its south end at the IND 47th-50th Street station (B, D, F). It also has a corridor running east to 5th Avenue at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Reddit has a map of the corridor. It’s lined with shops and eateries of various affordabilities. Last time I was down here, before the pandemic, there was plenty of public seating and I had a pizza place I would go and relax with a slice or two. That convenience now seems to have been eliminated, as a great deal of public seating has been. There is also a little known passageway south to 42nd Street.
Though signage in the retail area has been updated to look more modern, the actual passageway area is something of a time capsule, combining 1930s tilework with 70s-era design. The signs are in the Avant-Garde font, used commonly in the 70s and 80s but somewhat dated now. One of the signs points to a “token booth.” The MTA has been through two different fare collection methods since tokens were phased out in the 1990s, Metrocards and the tap-and-ride OMNY system in which 8fares come from a tapped card or directly from your bank when you tap your phone.
1930s tilework and spaces for ad posters.
Black and gold is the overall color scheme.
When the signs were installed 6th Avenue was officially known as Avenue of the Americas and so, appeared that way on all official signage, letterheads, etc. In the 1980s, the Department of Transportation gave in to common usage and added 6th Avenue signs.
The passageway beneath 6th Avenue allows passage into various office buildings, provided you prove you have business there.
Public phones are nearly extinct, but I found one here.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
2/16/26